Sunday, 3 July 2011

Dimitar Berbatov will battle for Manchester United future

Dimitar Berbatov is determined not to let Manchester United’s summer spending spree drive him out of Old Trafford.

The Bulgarian striker is seeking talks over a new contract with the Premier League champions as he enters the final year of his deal.

Sir Alex Ferguson has spent around £50m on Phil Jones, Ashley Young and David de Gea already since the end of last season - and is looking to spend more with Samir Nasri a £20m target.

He is also expected to bring money in with sales of a host of fringe players.

Berbatov's future remains in doubt, but MEN Sport can reveal that NO clubs have made an official bid for him this summer, despite his Champions League final snub in May appearing to call time on his three years at the club.

Despite interest from Juventus, Roma, Paris St Germain and most recently, Valencia, no one has come up with a concrete offer.

Berbatov has made it clear that he wants to end his career at United, but the Sir Alex Ferguson has yet to indicate if he is willing to open negotiations into an extension to his current contract.

His agent, Emil Danchev, said: “No club has tried to contact me or my client.”

Despite ending last season as the Premier League’s joint leading scorer with 20 goals, Berbatov’s first team opportunities look set to become increasingly limited.

Ferguson gave the clearest indication yet that the 30-year-old’s future looks bleak after omitting him from his squad for the Champions League final defeat to Barcelona.

He opted to name Michael Owen on the bench instead and then handed the former England striker a one-year extension at United.

Ferguson has since spent £16m on Aston Villa forward, Young, and will have Danny Welbeck back in his squad after a season-long loan at Sunderland.

Welbeck is on the back of an impressive European Championships for England's under 21s and will be looking for his chance to establish himself in United’s first team.

And with Javier Hernandez having enjoyed such a sensational first season in England, Berbatov could find himself well down the pecking order in the battle to partner Wayne Rooney.

United have the option of a one-year extension to the deal Berbatov signed upon his club record £30.75m arrival from Tottenham in 2008, so are in no panic about him leaving for free at the end of next season.

They will wait and see what offers materialise from the initial interest shown in the striker – but would expect his impressive campaign last season to drive up his valuation if they decide to cash in.